Russia claims street battles in crucial Ukrainian logistics center Kurakhove, pushes eastern offensive
Russian security agencies cited by Russian state-run Tass news agency claim that Russian forces have entered the eastern Ukrainian city of Kurakhove and started street battles.
Kurakhove serves as a critical logistical center for Ukrainian forces in southern Donbas. Capturing the town would allow Russian troops to disrupt supply routes essential for sustaining Ukrainian military operations in the region. The town’s location positions it as a gateway for further advances towards Pokrovsk, another vital city in the area. Kurakhove is also home to one of Ukraine’s largest thermal power plants, which historically supplied electricity to much of the Donetsk Oblast.
The intensity of the Russian offensive is reflected in data from Ukraine’s General Staff, which reported 39 attacks targeting at least eight settlements around Kurakhove in just 24 hours. However, the General Staff’s operational updates made no mention of street fighting within the city itself.
Russian advances come from the east, north (after taking Selydove), and south (near Bohoiavlenka), according to Deep State. Ukrainian officials highlight that Russian forces are intensifying drone operations in the area.
Russian forces are executing a three-pronged pincer movement to encircle Kurakhove, putting immense pressure on Ukrainian defenders and despite suffering significant casualties.
Ukrainian Commander in Chief Oleksandr Sysrksyi acknowledged the deteriorating situation, describing conditions around Kurakhove and Pokrovsk as “challenging” and “trending toward escalation.”
The pre-war population of 18,000 has largely fled, with only several hundred residents remaining.
Military analysts note that Russia’s advance in eastern Ukraine has gained momentum since mid-October. While Russian forces are sustaining heavy casualties due to their high-intensity assault tactics, they maintain numerical and artillery superiority over Ukrainian defenders, reportedly bolstered by North Korean military personnel.
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